Minot, N.D. – The ND State Water Commission and the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project engineering team consisting of Barr Engineering and their partners Ackerman-Estvold, Moore Engineering and CPS, Ltd announced a significant alignment modification to the Revised Draft Alignment which was released on November 30, 2011.

The engineering team continues the review and analysis of other options and alternatives in order to improve the November 30 draft alignment by reducing the number of impacted residences. This analysis, coupled with the public and stakeholder input, has led to the identification of a potential project alignment change that would affect areas that were not previously impacted by the project footprint. Even though this new alignment alternative (Alignment C) does not significantly reduce the project footprint, it appears to significantly reduce the residences that would lie within the footprint of the project and would still provide the same level of protection at 27,400 cfs plus three feet of freeboard.

The modification, to be referenced as Alignment C (or the Maple Diversion), consists of a high flow diversion that would follow the south side of the existing Canadian Pacific Railroad embankment near 2nd Ave SW, through Moose Park and old Magic City Lumber property, crossing the Canadian Pacific tracks west of the 6th Street Underpass, and follow the Lincoln Diversion route east to the Broadway bridge. River closure structures would be added within the Mouse River channel at both the upstream (just upstream of the existing Canadian Pacific railroad bridge near 2nd Ave SW) and downstream (Broadway bridge) locations so the river could be completely diverted into the high flow diversion channel during high flows. During normal flow conditions the river would continue to flow as it currently does throughout this area. As water levels rise, to a flood stage, the river would be cut off and diverted through the diversion channel. The current river channel and levee system would remain intact and provide protection to a level of 5,000 cfs.

The engineering team will continue to evaluate and refine the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project. As with most flood control projects of this magnitude, refinements to the alignment will continue as the preliminary engineer’s report and project design are developed.

Maps outlining the Maple Diversion and previously presented alignment options between the Canadian Pacific Railroad bridge just upstream of 2nd Ave SW and the Broadway bridge are included with this release and can also be found at www.mouseriverplan.com. As with the Draft Preliminary Alignment, the modifications announced today are still preliminary, but will provide the public the opportunity to share comments on the revisions. The modifications and approximate impact areas would lie within the pink areas outlined in the maps.

Public input can be submitted online through the project website at www.mouseriverplan.com, or by mailing comments to 6008 Hwy 2 East, Minot, ND 58701.

For more information about the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan, or to submit input or comments, visit www.mouseriverplan.com.